To think it was ok to have my engine running??!

[GuinefortGrey]

This morning, driving through a village, I received a text that I had been waiting for and required an urgent reply. So I pulled over into space at the side of the road in order to safely read and reply. Lots of space available, so pulled in adjacent to a garden wall, so not directly outside anyone's house. I left the engine running as I sat there as I knew I would only be a couple of minutes. There are no parking restrictions, all village residents park along the road on that side.

Anyway, head down in phone, I noticed movement outside the car and saw a older lady gesturing as me, making key turning movements. Whilst trying to get my brain in gear to work out what on earth she was trying to say (for a moment I thought maybe she had locked herself out!) another younger woman knocked on my window She said "can you turn your engine off as my neighbour has a condition that is made worse by toxic fumes". To be honest I don't know if she said please or not but the tone was very snooty and immediately got my back up. I had literally been there no more than 2 minutes and was just about to leave. I said "I'm just leaving now" and the woman said "well if you ever park here again make sure you turn your engine off", to which I replied "don't worry I shan't ever stop here again now I know it's such a nice, friendly village" and she shouted "good!!!" behind me as I pulled off.

Seriously, I was not even stopped outside the older lady's cottage, but about 2 metres away next to a garden wall. I feel bad because I should have responded more politely but the woman's tone was so rude, and I immediately felt all defensive and blurted out the first things that came out of my mouth, but I still don't think I did anything "wrong" leaving my engine running for a couple of mins. AIBU??

I seem to attract these "tellings off" by random strangers 🙁 . Had a lady have a go at me for using a poo bag to pick up
after my dog a couple of years ago. Said I was polluting the environment and as we live in the countryside should just leave the dog poo for nature to take care of

[PigletJohn]

I gather betsy is not willing to discuss any downside other than instant death.

[daisychain01]

Leaving the car engine running is anti social, nothing to do with whether it is legal or otherwise.

Exhaust fumes just stink.

[Buckinbronco]

Lol go betsy. I also don't believe car engines make people's Windows rattle. How could they? I live to a bloody motorway and don't have these problems. There are lost of drama queens out there

[ChardonnayKnickertonSmythe]

Nah, Betsy's just not inclined to discuss downsides to anyone who's not Betsy.
She has a life, don't you know.

[PigletJohn]

You won't answer my two questions, I see.

[betsyderek]

Dear me, is it upsetting you that I wont engage? You can't force me to. I answered the OP not some armchair bully thanks.

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

I don't believe there is a downside to leaving an engine running for 2 minutes. Apart from getting a couple of middle aged mum's in a froth

Apart from the fact it is illegal.

Apart from the fact you are totally unnecessarily adding to airborne pollutants - are you aware of global warming?

[PigletJohn]

I'm not upset that you refuse to deal with defects in your argument, but I shall continue to point it out.

[Buckinbronco]

It would be very interesting to know whether anyone has been arrested or fined for leaving their engine running. Because that's the only consequence of something being illegal. It being illegal doesn't really matter in itself

[Buckinbronco]

(Ie there are all sorts of things which are technically illegal but aren't enforced much because it would be petty to do so)

[betsyderek]

Please do carry on. And if you can get any more pompous about a person stopping for 2 minutes, please do. It's hilarious and entertaining me as I am stuck in a hotel room with nothing to do until I am called to work.

[allegretto]

Well I'm glad you all live in places where the air is so clean you don't care. Where I live the air quality is very poor and it has been estimated that we will lose a year of life because of it. My youngest child has bronchial problems related to poor air quality. What does it cost you to turn the engine off? Nothing. What would it cost us if everyone did what you did? Our health. Like a lot of things ONE person is not a problem but why be that one person that is part of a much larger issue?

[Buckinbronco]

Where do you live allegretto?
if you have severe pollution like that isn't it about industrial fumes

[allegretto]

I live in a city in Italy and the pollution is all vehicle emissions.

[allegretto]

My city is one of the worst for early deaths www.thelocal.it/20151130/italy-highest-in-eu-for-pollution-linked-deaths

[PlentyOfPubeGardens]

Hahaha now you know how smokers feel.

Which would you rather have pumped straight into your living room - someone's second hand smoke or someone's car exhaust? Which do you think might kill you quicker?

I've found it interesting to compare the responses here with responses to this thread.

She said "can you turn your engine off as my neighbour has a condition that is made worse by toxic fumes" - and - I was not even stopped outside the older lady's cottage, but about 2 metres away

YAB deeply U to make a fuss in this situation! UK air pollution 'linked to 40,000 early deaths a year'. It's mostly a problem in towns and cities but I can't believe you're objecting to being asked to turn off your engine two meters away from someone's house who has a health condition made worse by traffic fumes.

To anybody who leaves their engine idling for no good reason - fucking stop it. It's antisocial and, more importantly, it harms people's health (far more than the odd wisp of fag smoke on the breeze.)

[vienna1981]

A few years ago, a van from a well-known company used to park in the car park opposite my home. Noisy, rattling diesel engine at 5.30 in the morning Monday to Friday. It was very disturbing but was thankfully stopped with one telephone call to the company concerned.

I think, sometimes, vehicle engines can be smellier and/or noisier than the driver realises, especially early in the morning when there isn't much ambient noise generally.

[runningincircles12]

I just don't get why people do this. It's not like turning the engine off and then back on is in any way a hassle, unless you drive some old banger where you're scared it won't start again if you turn it off. Just seems a bit strange.

[BorisJohnsonsHair]

YABU because you had absolutely no need to have your engine running. Every time you stop you should turn it off; we don't need more pollution. It really pisses me off when I see people sitting in cars with the engine running so I would probably have said something to you too.

[thebestfurchinchilla]

I'd have apologised and driven off. Does seem strange though to be bothered by fumes but to walk out into them?! It can be easy to forget that some people aren't up in the morning when you're dashing off to work and have been up a couple of hours, but you did say 10am which isn't early at all. Interesting point others have made about engine running and texting. Duly noted.

[SouperSal]

It can be easy to forget that some people aren't up in the morning when you're dashing off to work and have been up a couple of hours, but you did say 10am which isn't early at all.

Unless you're someone who works night shifts and has probably only just got to sleep at 10am.

A bit of consideration doesn't cost anything.

[WhoTheFuckIsSimon]

People park outside my house with the engine running all the time and it annoys me. Ive got a small front garden/drive so they're not right outside but for some reason with some cars the engine makes my head vibrate. I can't explain it very well, it's not the noise which bugs me so much but it properly makes my head thud and can make me feel quite sick.